Warning: This Story Contains Disturbing Details
A 34-year-old father of five from Mawson Lakes will spend Christmas behind bars, accused of inflicting horrific injuries on his 3-month-old daughter.
The little girl’s injuries are so severe that she may experience permanent paralysis and blindness.
A Heart-Wrenching Case
The father appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody, wiping away tears on his T-shirt as the prosecutor, Matthew Dunn, described the baby’s injuries as “extremely serious” and “at the very highest end of the scale.” The baby suffered a skull fracture, haemorrhages, bleeding behind the eyes, and spinal compression fractures.
The doctor who examined the baby believes the injuries are consistent with a high-impact force, such as being thrown into a wall, rather than a simple fall. The accused had told his partner that the baby had slipped through his arms and fallen on the floor, hitting her head and back. However, the partner became suspicious when the baby cried for 10 minutes and then seemed okay.
A Loving Father or a Danger to His Child?
The defence lawyer, Alan Johnson, described the accused as “a very, very strong, loving family father” who had been the sole carer of his children up until the alleged incident. The lawyer claimed the accused was not a flight risk and had no custodial history. The older children wanted their father home for Christmas.
However, Magistrate Luke Davis was unconvinced, citing the seriousness of the allegations and the fact that $40,000 in cash was found at the address when the man was arrested. This suggests the accused has the means to potentially “take off.”
The Accused’s Brother Speaks Out
Outside the court, the accused’s brother insisted that he believed his sibling’s version of events. “He’s been looking after his kids for the last 10 years, he’s a great dad,” he said. The brother claimed that his sibling was “a very fair and honest guy” who didn’t deserve to be in this situation.
When asked why his brother didn’t call an ambulance after allegedly dropping the child, the brother explained that the baby had fallen asleep after having a cuddle, and the wife called an ambulance when she returned.
No Bail for Christmas
Magistrate Davis denied the accused bail, citing the “utmost seriousness” of the allegations. The accused will remain behind bars until his next court appearance in April. As the father spends Christmas away from his family, the question remains: is he a loving father who made a tragic mistake, or a danger to his own child?